A Fresh Start with God: Back to Bethel

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Worldwide Prayer Point

Hebrews_3-14: For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end

A Fresh Start with God – Back to Bethel (A Call to Revisit and Repair Our Personal Altar with God)

TEXT: Genesis 17:1-8; 35:1-15;

I Kings 18:30-39; I Cor 9:26-27;

Phil 3:12-16

INTRODUCTION: Brethren, we are pilgrims, on a journey to heaven. Thank God for God’s gift of Salvation, Thank God for His gift of Grace and what Grace is meant to do for us (Titus 2:11-13). But Phil 2:12b-13 says to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling, and to allow God to work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Apostle Paul in Phil 3:12-14 said he never counted himself to have attained or become perfect. He never saw himself having arrived, but he kept pressing on, and in I Cor 9:26-27, he continually subjected himself (to constant check), lest after preaching to others, he, himself will become a castaway. It was same Apostle Paul in II Cor 13:5 that said we should constantly examine ourselves….

God loves giving His children opportunity for a fresh start, a new beginning. New beginnings that begin with God, are marked by obedience to His word and adherence to the leading/guidance of the Holy Spirit, which leads to a life of godliness, victory and a life of an overcomer.

Similar to God’s call to Abraham in Genesis 17 (15 years after God first appeared to him in Genesis 12), God is calling on us to have a fresh start with Him in this season. A fresh start in our relationship with Him, our devotion and commitment to Him etc. He is inviting us to start anew with a clean heart, to repair the altar of devotion, and to live a life that is increasingly Godly, because when we truly obey and prepare for a fresh start, God visits, He empowers, and He heals as we see in Genesis 17:1-8; 35:1-15 and I Kings 18:30-39.

Outline 1: A fresh Start begins with an inner desire and hearing God’s clear instruction

God first met with Jacob in Genesis 28:10-22, and Jacob continued into Laban’s house where God blessed him. But at a time, despite being blessed of God, life’s situation around him was not pleasant:

He lost favor with his Uncle Laban, which led to his departing with his family from Laban

His dramatic meeting with Esau, and the initial fear from that encounter

The family problems involving the defying of Dinah, and the resultant slaughter of the Canaanites

God speaks with clarity to Jacob – Arise, go to Bethel, and dwell there; make there an altar to God. Clarity from God precedes renewal, and we can only hear from God when we are turned to God’s channel

We too can begin a fresh start with God by listening attentively to God’s word and His leading

What is God calling you to begin, or start afresh, or recommit to today?

Outline 2: Obedience begins in the heart and is expressed in the open

Jacob’s immediate response: he calls his household to purification and dedication – “Put away the foreign gods…be clean and change your garments”.

He leads by example, and he leads his family into consecration and preparation for meeting God at Bethel.

Our desire for renewal should be followed with taking practical steps, actions to put-off things that hinder us (Hebrews 12:1).

Question is: what the “the foreign gods” or those things competing with God in our lives today?

We cannot expect God’s presence without first dealing honestly with “idols” things that distract us, that hinder our relationship with God

Outline 3: Encounter with God and empowerment come after faithful obedience

They arrive at Bethel, where God appears to Jacob again and blesses him, reaffirming His covenant promises.

God revalidates the name change (Gen 32:28), signifying a renewed relationship with Him – “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel” (35:10), and then pours upon him, His covenant promises upon Abraham and Isaac, blessings of fruitfulness and multiplication and land.

Jacob builds an altar for worship again at Bethel, naming the place El-Bethel meaning God, the God of Bethel.

The act of building and raising altar to God is indicative of a truly changed heart, rededicated to God.

True fresh starts are authenticated by God’s visitation, empowerment, and blessings, not merely by human effort.

Let’s note the sequence: obedience and true worship paves the way for God’s gracious identification and blessings

Conclusion:

Key words:

Hearing from God – Clarity from God precedes renewal

Purification/cleansing is a pathway to experiencing God’s presence

Worship is a cornerstone for renewal

God’s visitation and blessings follows from faithfully obeying His word.

Questions for Self-Reflection:

1. What is the current state of my altar with God today? Is there an urgent need for repairs? David in Psalms 51 cried out to God for mercy and for a renewed spirit. This season of “A Fresh Start” is the opportunity God has given us for that renewed spirit and fresh zeal for God

2. What are the modern idols that I have allowed in my life that have become source of hindrance to my relationship with God, idols that are competing for space with God in my heart?

3. What practical steps must I take and commit to?

Read Psalms 51:16-17

Prayers:

Dear Lord, search my heart, purge me with hyssop, that I might be clean, wash me that I might be whiter than snow, please remove every idol from my heart, idols that distract me from staying focused on You. Lord, purify my heart and multiply Your grace upon me that I will continually live in the newness of life in Christ Jesus my Lord! Amen!

Thank You Jesus,

Salvation Prayers

If you don’t Know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and would like to accept him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, Please say this prayer:

Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your Will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Support Our Ministry,

Good Morning Dear,

It cost a lot of money to maintain a website, Nonetheless a non-profit Christian website,

Please if you have been blessed by this ministry and you are led to support and bless this ministry in return,

Please make your donation to this account,

Chukwuemeka Obiorah Ogwo,

Account Number: 0139438409,

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Nigeria,

To help us continue in the spreading of The GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST to every corner of this world,

Thank You Very Much For Your Support,

May GOD, we Serve Bless You A Million Times in return, Amen,

May God Bless Israel, Nigeria, And America And Take Care Of Us; May God Make His Face Shine Upon Us, And Be Gracious To Us; May The Lord Lift Up His Countenance Upon Us, And Give Us Peace, In Jesus Christ Name, We Pray! Amen!

May The Grace The Lord Jesus Christ, And The Love Of God, And The Fellowship Of The Holy Spirit Be With You All. Amen!

Chukwuemeka Obiorah Ogwo,

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You Must Avoid Curses

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Worldwide Prayer Point

Galatians_3-13-1: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

MEMORIZE:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” – 1Thessalonians 5:22

Read: Genesis 4:3-16

3. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.

4. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,

5. But He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

6. So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

7. If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

8. Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

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9. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10. And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

11. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

12. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

13. And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!

14. Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15. And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

16. Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.

MESSAGE:

A curse is a summon to spiritual forces to work against someone or a group of people, while a divine curse is a summon to all forces in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth to do the same. No matter how strong you are, I’m sure you don’t want any spiritual force to work against you; hence, you must avoid curses.

In Judges 9:5-57, we see an example of a curse impacting an entire city. Jotham had escaped being killed by his brother, Abimelech, who had killed seventy of his brothers, and he responded by placing a curse on Abimelech and the men of Shechem who helped him. Three years later, God allowed an evil spirit to execute the curse, leading to chaos and destruction in the land and, ultimately, Abimelech’s death.

I heard a story when I was young that helped shape my actions as I grew older. It was reported that a young man who was travelling on a journey passed by an old man and laughed mockingly at him for no reason. The old man responded by saying, “I may be too weak to do anything, but the basket is never satisfied with water.” After saying this, he continued on his way. Suddenly, the young man felt an intense thirst, so he rushed to the nearest hut to drink some water before continuing his journey. Shortly after, he became thirsty again, and he stopped at another hut to drink more water. After many more similar stops, some people sensed that something was amiss. They questioned him, and he told them the old man’s statement. They shouted, “Ah! That is a curse.” They found the old man and begged him to forgive the young man. He agreed, released him from the curse, and immediately, the intense thirst stopped.

Beloved, avoid actions that can attract curses to you. Honour elders, and do not cheat or hurt other people. If you have done nothing wrong and someone curses you, it will not come to pass because a causeless curse will never come into effect Proverbs 26:2

When you study your Bible, you will see that certain actions can attract curses from God; avoid them like a plague. If a man’s curse can be as powerful as the one in the story I shared above, how much more curses from God? I will discuss more about avoiding God’s curses tomorrow.

If there’s any curse currently operating in your life, I decree that it will be broken today, in Jesus’ name.

Key Point.

Be wise; avoid anything that can attract a curse.

PRAYER POINT.

1. Father, thank You for the salvation of my soul through Jesus Christ

2. Father, give me the wisdom that will keep me and my descendants away from curses

3. Father, give me the grace to keep a pure heart before You in Jesus’ Name

4. Father, unlike Cain, I ask for the wisdom and humility to heed Your warnings.

5. Father, open my heaven and keep it widely opened and cause the ground to yield its strength to me in Jesus Name

6. Father, by Your Spirit open the eyes of all those who are under a curse to run to Jesus Christ, the Curse Breaker

7. Father, give the above mentioned the grace never to return to their vomit again lest something worse come upon them again in Jesus Name

Thank You LORD!

Bible In One Year:

Genesis 32-35

By Pastor E A Adeboye

Thank You Jesus,

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Salvation Prayers

If you don’t Know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and would like to accept him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, Please say this prayer:

Support Our Ministry,

Good Morning Dear,

It cost a lot of money to maintain a website, Nonetheless a non-profit Christian website,

Please if you have been blessed by this ministry and you are led to support and bless this ministry in return,

Please make your donation to this account,

Chukwuemeka Obiorah Ogwo,

Account Number,0139438409,

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Nigeria,

To help us continue in the spreading of The GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST to every corner of this world,

Thank You Very Much For Your Support,

May GOD, we Serve Bless You A Million Times in return, Amen,

May The Grace The Lord Jesus Christ, And The Love Of God, And The Fellowship Of The Holy Spirit Be With You All. Amen!

Chukwuemeka Obiorah Ogwo,

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The Burial Of Sarah.

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Worldwide Prayer Point

The Burial Of Sarah.

Genesis 23: 1-20 (NKJV)

23:1. Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; [these were] the years of the life of Sarah.

23:2. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that [is,] Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

23:3. Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

23:4. “I [am] a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

23:5. And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,

23:6. “Hear us, my lord: You [are] a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”

23:7. Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

23:8. And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me,

23:9. “that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which [is] at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”

23:10. Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying,

23:11. “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that [is] in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”

23:12. Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land;

23:13. and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you [will give it,] please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take [it] from me and I will bury my dead there.”

23:14. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,

23:15. “My lord, listen to me; the land [is worth] four hundred shekels of silver. What [is] that between you and me? So bury your dead.”

23:16. And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.

23:17. So the field of Ephron which [was] in Machpelah, which [was] before Mamre, the field and the cave which [was] in it, and all the trees that [were] in the field, which [were] within all the surrounding borders, were deeded

23:18. to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

23:19. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that [is,] Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

23:20. So the field and the cave that [is] in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.

STUDY:

Sarah, Abraham’s wife, died at the age of 127 years in Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Thereafter, Abraham negotiated with the sons of Heth to buy a property for a burial ground. He also asked for the cave of Machpelah, belonging to Ephron.

Ephron offered to surrender his field, together with the cave, for 400 shekels of silver. Abraham paid the cost of 400 shekels of silver for Ephron’s field and cave located in Machpelah and the property was deeded to Abraham as his possession. This was done before all the sons of Heth. Then Abraham buried Sarah in the cave. Burial ceremonies differ from country to country, and from culture to culture.

In some cultures, the dead is buried in public burial grounds with just family members attending. In some other cultures, the dead is buried in the family compound or property with many people attending. Some people spend lots of money to bury their dead. Some even sell their land to finance such expensive burials.

Thank You Jesus,

Salvation Prayers

If you don’t Know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and would like to accept him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, Please say this prayer:

Support Our Ministry,

Good Morning Dear,

It cost a lot of money to maintain a website, Nonetheless a non-profit Christian website,

Please if you have been blessed by this ministry and you are led to support and bless this ministry in return,

Please make your donation to this account,

Chukwuemeka Obiorah Ogwo,

Account Number,0139438409,

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Nigeria,

To help us continue in the spreading of The GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST to every corner of this world,

Thank You Very Much For Your Support,

May GOD, we Serve Bless You A Million Times in return, Amen,

May The Grace The Lord Jesus Christ, And The Love Of God, And The Fellowship Of The Holy Spirit Be With You All. Amen!

Chukwuemeka Obiorah Ogwo,

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Worldwide Prayer Point

Daily writing prompt

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

View all responses

What is the legacy I want to leave behind? This is the legacy I want to leave behind. I want it to be said of me, like God said of Abraham in the Bible, Genesis 18:17-18.

Genesis 18:17-18 says :”And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

I want GOD to testify of my stewardship while on earth!

Rewrite your story through prayer

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Posted on September 15, 2020 by Worldwide Prayer Point

This nonsense continued until God told Jacob to return home. After leaving Laban, Esau heard about it and came out fully with his men to kill Jacob, but before they met, Jacob had turned to Israel on the altar of … Continue reading →

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Tag Archives: Genesis

A Fresh Start with God: Back to Bethel

You Must Avoid Curses

The Burial Of Sarah.

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

Rewrite your story through prayer

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